Steam-collecting means for boilers



July 1, 1930. J. E..MUHLFELD STEAM COLLECTING MEANS FOR BOILERS Filed April '7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ufiZ JK f ' Jami;

July 1, 1930. J. E. MUHLFELD STEAM COLLECTING MEANS FOR BOILERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April '7, 1927 Jami/rm Paftented July 1, 1930 U ED STATE I JOHN MUHLFELD, or SCARSDALE, new YORK STEAM COLLECTING MEANS FOR BOILERS Application fi led April 7, 192?. Serial No. 181,673.

This invention relates to steam collecting and distributing means for boilers, and broadly considered has for its principal object and purpose to provide simple and inexpensive means which is applicable to various different types of boilers whereby the steam may be collected and supplied to a plurality of distributing pipes or conduits.

My invention has for a further object to provide a'stean' distributing means which is particularly designed for use and application in connection with a multi-drum type of boiler. One construction comprises a novel form of header receiving the steam from the individual boiler drums and from whichv the steam is supplied to one or more pipes and thereby conveyed to the point or points of utilization. v a l The embodiment of my present improve- 29 ments which I haveselected for purposes of illustration, is primarily intended for use in connection with a new high powered type of locomotive recently designed by me, the said locomotive having an outside dry pipe. Therefore, in the drawings and the following description, I have disclosed a particular form of the steam receiving header for connection with the rear end of this outside dry pipe and which in this new type of locomotive replaces the usual boiler steam done.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved steam collecting means for boilers and in the form,

construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claim.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated one satisfactory embodiment of the'invention which has produced excellent results in practice, and in which similar reference characters dgsignate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing portions of two boiler drums and the steam collecting pipes therein, together with the steam receiving header;

c Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of'one of the boiler drums taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary plan view of i one of the steam collector pipes;

V Fig. 5 is a detached side elevation oft-he header. r I I In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated only so much of the boiler structure as is necessary for a clear understanding of the application of my present improvements thereto. Therefore, I have illustrated pore tions of the spaced longitudinally extending upper drums 5 of the boiler which are con nected by vertical banks of water tubes with a similar pair of lower drums. 3

At the inner side of a vertical plane intersecting the axial center of each drum 5, there is arranged within said drum andadjacent the top wall thereof a steam collector pipe 6 which extends for substantially the entire length of the drum. This pipe is closed at its opposite ends and is secured in fixed relation to the drum wall by a plurality of spaced metal straps 7 extending around said pipe and having their opposite ends welded or otherwise permanently fixed to the wall of the drum 5. At similarly spaced points the pipe 6, isprovided on the upper side thereof with spacing lugs 8 preferablywelded to the wall of the pipe and bearing againstthe inner side of the drum'wall as clearly seen in Fig. f the drawings. -This spaced upper portionof the wall of the pipe6 is provided overits entire length with a multiplicity of spaced openings 9 therein while the remaining portion of the pipe wall is imper'forate. The upperside of the-pipe 6 is further provided at a: suitable point intermediate of its ends with an outlet nipple 10 which is adapt-S ed to beengaged through an opening 11 in the wall of the. drum 5 and at its outer end extendsintoan annular recess at one side of an opening 13 formed in the plate 12 which is welded or. otherwise permanently fixed upon the exterior of the wall. of the drum 5. Preferably, the nipples 1O project' upwardly through the openings 11 at an angle with respect to a vertical plane intersecting the drum axis asclearly seen inFigJQ of the drawings.

Between the spaced drums 5 a steam receiving header of suitable construction is arranged. As herein shown, this header includes a body 14 providing a steam receiving chamber of the required capacity. This chamber is connected by the branches 15 projecting from the opposite sides of the body 14 with the respective steam collector pipes, the outer end of each branch connection 15 of the header being angularly turned so that it may be positioned in axial alignment with the opening 13 in the plate 12 and with the outlet nipple 10 of the steam collector pipe. For the purpose of conveniently fixing the outer end oi the branch connection 15 in position, I provide the same with an outwardly' extending flange 16 having a series of spaced openings receiving the threaded bolts 17- which are adapted to be threaded into similarly spaced bores or sockets provided in: the plate 12. Between the end of the connection 15 and the outer end of the opening 13 in the plate 12, a suitable fluid tight packing means 18 is interposed which, when the bolts 17 are tightened up forms substantially a sealed joint between the end of the header branch 15 and the opening in the'plate 12.,

At its front end, the header body 14 is formed with the flanged nipple 19 to which the rear end of the dr pipe indicated at 20 is adapted to be detachably connected. At its rear end the header body 14; is also provided with a second outlet 21 and each of 1 the branches 15 of the header are likewise provided at the rear sides thereof with the outlets 22. These outlets 21 and 22 are adapted for connection with the injector and other accessory devices of the boiler.

I regard the improved steam receiving and distributing header as herein described as of particular importance in connection with the latest development in high powered locomotives wherein an outside arrangement of the dry pipe furnishing steam to the cylinder valve chests is provided instead of the usual arrangement of this pipe within the boiler shell. It will be seen that this header re= places the steam dome of locomotive boilers of standard construction, and therefore, I-

contemplate arranging the throttle valve which has heretofore been placed in the steam dome, in a section of theodry pipe 20 whereby this valve will ,be easily accessible for vpurposes of inspection and repair. However, if desired, the throttle valve may be located between the superheater header and the engine valve chests or cylinders, or this valve may be arranged in combination with the superheater header itself. Accordingly, from what has been said, it will be evident that the novel features of my present disclosure may with slight mechanical changes,

be readily adapted and applied to stationary boilers employed for numerous diflerent purposes, as well as to various other types of locomotive boilers than that herein particularly referred to.

Further, while I have herein described in detail a construction and arrangement of the A steam distributing header for locomo tive boilers comprising a one piece casting having a main steam receiving chamber and inlet branches projecting laterally from the wall of said chamber at opposite sides thereof, each of said branches, havingmeans at its free end for connection with a boiler steam drum, said chamber being provided at one side of said inlet branches with means for connection to a dry steam'nipe and having an outlet nipple at the opposite side of 7 said branch inlets for connection with a boiler accessory supply'conduit, and each of said inlet branches of the header being also provided with an outlet nipple for connection to conduits supplying steam to other boiler accessories.

In testimony that I claim theforegoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto. a

J OHN E. MUHLFELD. 

